About Us

The Dilly Tree is an Atlanta based Christian Book Publishing Company, operating as a State of Georgia Company, The Dilly Tree, LLC. We are committed to publishing and promoting books with sound Christian Principles, to further encourage the christian community in their faith and growth in the Lord. We only take on a few writers each year, with the intent to walk them through a complex literay process that is daunting and challenging especially for those publishing their first book.

While we work within defined wholistic parameters, we remain open to good ideas that challenge writers and readers to be careful, open-minded and Christlike as they walk their Christian journey. We appreciate your visiting our website, and look forward to your support this year and in the future. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers, and may God continue to bless you.

What is a Dilly?

SAPODILLA – Common Name: Dilly

The Sapodilla, also known as the Dilly is a fruit known throughout the Caribbean, including the Bahamas, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Kitts, etc., and is grown on a tree called the dilly tree.
The regional fruit nicknamed “dilly” is a round, oval shaped sweet fruit that at full maturity, on average, typically ranges in size from 2 to 4 inches in diameter. The young unripe dilly skin is light brown in color and firm on the outside, with the skin having a soft velvety somewhat medium coarse and sandpaper-like texture. When the dilly becomes ripe, the feel of the fruit is soft on the outside, with the skin being able to be pressed gently for firmness and edibility. The gradual softness of the dilly is normally associated with the ripeness, and the sweetness of the edible light brown very soft interior is a naturally sugary, almost watery syrupy  interior fruit. The dilly has a unique profound island-like flavor.

While the dilly normally does not become ripe until it is picked or falls off the tree, sometimes ripe larger dillies can be picked from the tree, especially during summertime when there is little wind and no hurricanes. When ripe, the fruit becomes soft and juicy. The flesh may be light brownish sienna, reddish brown, or medium-brown with a smooth and slight-grainy texture. Dilly fruits typically contain three to four hard black seeds in the center. There is a sap or gum from both the tree, known as “chicle” the original ingredient used to make chewing gum, which is also a source of self-made chewing gum on the islands. Sometimes the dilly leaves are also chewed along with the chicle gum to add flavor.